In a major development likely to shake Nigeria’s religious and legal landscape, top U.S. lawmakers — backed by foreign-policy experts — on December 2, 2025, urged the Nigerian government to abolish Sharia law across the twelve northern states and to disband all Hisbah religious-enforcement commissions. The call came during a high-profile congressional hearing in Washington, D.C., aimed at addressing escalating violence, alleged targeted killings of Christians, and pervasive insecurity in Nigeria.
The hearing was convened by the U.S. House Appropriations Committee together with the House Foreign Affairs Committee — following a directive from U.S. President Donald J. Trump. The briefing gathered lawmakers, experts and human-rights advocates to shine a spotlight on what many describe as systematic persecution of religious minorities in Nigeria.
🎯 Expert Call: Reform the System, Not Just the Symptoms
At the centre of the hearing was Ebenezer Obadare — Douglas Dillon Senior Fellow for Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) — whose testimony laid out a sharp two-pronged strategy for lasting stability and religious freedom.
1. Neutralise terrorist and extremist threats: Obadare argued that until groups such as Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and radicalised militias are dismantled, Nigeria cannot recover from the wave of terror sweeping large parts of the country.
2. Constitutional and institutional reform: He urged that Sharia—currently embedded in civil and criminal codes in twelve northern states since around 2000 — be declared unconstitutional nationwide. At the same time, he recommended the dissolution of Hisbah bodies, which critics say are being misused to enforce religious conformity, target minorities, and enable forced conversions.
Obadare emphasised that his stance is not merely about religious enforcement, but about ending “weaponisation of religious law” that fuels systemic violence and oppression, leaving large segments of the population — including non-Muslims — living in fear.
Congress Responds: From Words to Action
Members of Congress participating in the hearing did not mince words. They described the ongoing massacres as tantamount to “religious cleansing,” rejecting narrative that these were just “inter-communal clashes” or isolated incidents of banditry.
As a result, they proposed several urgent measures:
Embed protections for religious minorities in U.S. foreign-assistance legislation.
Tie future aid and security cooperation to clear reforms by the Nigerian government — including abolition of Sharia and dissolution of Hisbah commissions.
Impose visa restrictions and sanctions on individuals believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, religious-freedom violations.
Some lawmakers pointed to recent steps by Nigeria — such as airstrikes against terrorist camps, deployment of extra police personnel, and the declaration of a national security emergency — as evidence that international pressure can prompt action. However, they warned these efforts remain insufficient without systemic reform.
Why This Moment Could Be Pivotal
This joint U.S. congressional hearing marks one of the most forceful international interventions in Nigeria’s internal security and religious-freedom landscape in decades. For the first time, powerful lawmakers have explicitly called for abolition of Sharia law and dismantling of state-sanctioned religious policing — not just condemnation of extremist violence.
International spotlight and pressure — With the U.S. pushing for reforms, Nigeria may face increasing diplomatic isolation, conditional foreign aid, or visa bans on officials linked to abuses.
Potential legal reform and secularisation — If Nigeria’s federal government responds, this could prompt legal overhaul in northern states, challenging decades-long religious-legal frameworks.
Boost for religious-freedom defenders and minority communities — The visibility and credibility of international backing could empower local human-rights groups and embolden victims to seek justice and protection.
The Challenges Ahead
Still, the road to change remains steep. Implementing such reforms would require overcoming entrenched political, religious, and cultural opposition. Many states have institutionalised Sharia and Hisbah systems for decades, and northern socio-political elites may resist abrupt reforms. Moreover, dismantling extremist networks like Boko Haram and ISWAP will demand not only military and security efforts, but also long-term investment in governance, development, and community reconciliation.
In addition, some observers warn that external pressure — especially from foreign governments — could fuel narratives of colonial interference, possibly complicating rather than solving Nigeria’s religious and security problems.
What This Means for Nigeria — And the World
For many Nigerians, especially religious minorities in the north and Middle Belt, the hearing represents a glimmer of hope. It signals that the international community is watching — and may no longer accept narratives that dismiss the violence as mere banditry or communal strife.
For the global audience, this development underscores a growing recognition that religious freedom and human rights in Nigeria are not only domestic concerns — but matters of global conscience, foreign policy, and international justice.
Whether this moment becomes a turning point will depend on sustained pressure, meaningful diplomacy, and courage within Nigeria to pursue deep legal reforms. For now, the call is clear: Sharia-based criminal codes and religious enforcement bodies like Hisbah must not coexist with universal human rights and religious freedom.
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